Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 104

The Explanation of Sandhyā and Related Daily Observances

Saṅdhyā-ādi Nitya-karma-Vidhi

Devanagari script

कवर्गं दक्षिणे बाहौ चवर्गं वामबाहुके । टतवर्गौ पादयोस्तु पफौ कुक्षिद्वये न्यसेत् ॥ १०४ ॥

Transliteration

kavargaṃ dakṣiṇe bāhau cavargaṃ vāmabāhuke | ṭatavargau pādayostu paphau kukṣidvaye nyaset || 104 ||

Translation

Qu’on accomplisse le nyāsa : placer le groupe «ka» sur le bras droit, le groupe «ca» sur le bras gauche ; les groupes «ṭa» et «ta» sur les pieds ; et les sons «pa» et «pha» sur les deux flancs de la taille.

Word by Word

• कवर्गम्: the ka-group (letters)
• कवर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular

• दक्षिणे: in the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular (agreeing with बाहौ)

• बाहौ: in the arm
• बाहौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular

• चवर्गम्: the ca-group (letters)
• चवर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: च-वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular

• वामबाहुके: in the left arm
• वामबाहुके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-बाहुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वामस्य बाहुकः)

• टतवर्गौ: the ṭa-group and ta-group
• टतवर्गौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ट-वर्ग + त-वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), द्विवचन; nominative dual; द्वन्द्वसमासः

• पादयोः: of the two feet
• पादयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; genitive dual

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• पफौ: pa and pha
• पफौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प-वर्ग + फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), द्विवचन; nominative dual; द्वन्द्व (पः च फः)

• कुक्षिद्वये: in the two sides of the belly
• कुक्षिद्वये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि-द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुक्ष्योः द्वयम्)

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should place

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches varṇa-nyāsa (letter-placement), a discipline where sacred sound is ritually installed in the body, treating the practitioner as a mantra-body (mantra-deha) fit for worship and japa.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though technical, nyāsa supports bhakti by preparing the devotee’s body and senses for focused remembrance and worship; it is a ritual aid that steadies attention for mantra-japa and deity-meditation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-vidhi: the verse uses the traditional consonant groupings (vargas) and prescribes their bodily locations for a structured nyāsa procedure.